Blue CoAl2O4 spinel via complexation method

Cobalt-aluminate spinel, CoAl2O4, has been synthesized by two synthesis variants of the complexation method: tartarate and gluconate routes. The complex precursors have been characterized by IR, UV-vis spectroscopy and thermal analysis. The cobalt-aluminate spinet has been investigated by XRD, IR, UV-vis and luminescence spectroscopy and TEM. The results indicated that in both cases the single-phase nanocrystalline CoAl2O4 spinet was formed. The average crystallite size from TEM images was in the range 50-60 nm. The emission spectra of CoAl2O4 in the visible region confirmed the presence of tetrahedral coordinated Co2+ ion. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.